TOWSON, MD — A Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge entered an order of default on January 20, 2026, against backstage actress Ava Grace May in a defamation lawsuit brought by Frederick YouTuber Levi Trumbull over false malicious Instagram posts in which Ava May allegedly falsely accused him of “stalking and harassing” her.
The case, which began with a failed professional collaboration in August 2024 and escalated through a small claims dispute to criminal accusations on social media, demonstrates how unreturned documents and unresolved conflicts can spiral into significant legal consequences. Court records show May never responded to the lawsuit despite being personally served, resulting in the order of default.
The Casting Call and Initial Agreement
According to court documents filed December 8, 2025, the relationship between Trumbull, 26, and May, 21, originated on Backstage.com, an entertainment industry platform where aspiring actors seek opportunities. On August 5, 2024, Trumbull posted a casting call seeking an on-camera video host for his YouTube channel, which has approximately 120,000 subscribers focused on government accountability and social commentary.
The posting described an opportunity to present scripted introductions for newsworthy video clips, with professional production equipment.
May applied on August 7, 2024, submitting a cover letter expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity. After phone interviews on August 17 and 19, Trumbull selected May from over many applicants and sent her an offer letter on August 20, 2024.
May's text response, documented in the complaint, was: "AHHHH THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This is so exciting."
The Starbucks Meeting and Unreturned Documents
The parties scheduled a meeting for August 21, 2024, at a Starbucks in Frederick to finalize paperwork. According to the complaint, Trumbull brought seven custom-drafted documents including an offer letter, talent release form, age verification form, background disclosure, property agreement, and nondisclosure agreement. He also brought $100 in cash as an advance toward travel expenses.
When presented with the documents, May became anxious and requested more time to review them, according to court filings. The complaint states May promised to either sign and return the documents or return them unsigned along with the money if she for any reason decided not to proceed.
May left with the unsigned documents and the $100 cash. According to the complaint, she never returned either despite (2) documented requests to do so.
By late August 2024, Trumbull terminated the offer and selected another candidate, who has since appeared in fourteen videos for his channel, according to court documents.
On September 13, 2024, Trumbull sent May a formal email requesting return of his property, offering three convenient options including in-person return, drop-off at the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, or mailing with tracking. May did not respond, according to the complaint.
On September 15, 2024, Trumbull sent a copy of the request via first-class mail to May's residence. Again, no response came.
The Small Claims Case
Court records show that in late 2024, Trumbull filed a small claims action against May in Maryland District Court. According to the complaint, this was "a legitimate legal proceeding brought in good faith through proper legal channels" seeking "the return of his property or compensation for its value."
A trial was held, and the complaint states "the judge ultimately ruled in the Defendant's favor on the narrow ground that the Plaintiff could not produce a signed cash receipt or other documentary evidence definitively proving that the Defendant had received the cash payment."
The complaint emphasizes this ruling "was based purely on evidentiary standards applicable to small claims proceedings and did not constitute any finding that the Plaintiff's claims were unsubstantiated, or improper in any respect."
Following the judgment, Trumbull "accepted the court's decision and did not take any further legal action related to that matter," according to court documents. The parties had no contact for many months.
The Song and Private Outreach
On September 10, 2025, May released a song titled "Astral Stalking" on streaming platforms. The complaint describes the song as depicting "themes of feeling pursued or monitored by an individual" with lyrics including "I can feel you looking at me through your astral eyes". Trumbull reportedly was told that the song was a “Shot at him”.
On September 13, 2025, Trumbull sent May an email titled "The High Road" attempting to resolve matters privately. The email, quoted extensively in court filings, stated: "I am reaching out in attempt to take the high road before I respond to some of your recent actions."
The email acknowledged the situation may have affected May and counseled that "publishing vengeful songs or TikTok's will not make you feel any better about what happened." It concluded: "I am more than willing to meet you at the field you choose, whether it's the field of reconciliation and moving past this, or the field of vengeance... I would advise you to let me know within 48 hours."
May did not respond, according to the complaint.
The Video and the Accusations
After receiving no response, Trumbull published a YouTube video on September 15, 2025, addressing the situation. The video, labeled "Opinion, Satire, & Parody" in its description according to court documents, criticized May's publicly available content using terms the complaint notes she herself employs to describe her work.
That evening at approximately 9:53 PM, May posted to her Instagram account @avagmay_, which had approximately 1,500 followers. According to the complaint, her posts stated: "THIS GUY HAS BEEN STALKING ME" and "And then harassed me and my family for months" and "This guy is also 10 years older than me."
The complaint characterizes these statements as defamation per se under Maryland law because they falsely accuse Trumbull of criminal conduct. Under Maryland law, stalking is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and harassment also carries criminal penalties.
The complaint argues the statements are objectively false. Trumbull's interactions with May consisted of one business meeting, one small claims case conducted through legal channels, one email, and one YouTube video—none of which satisfy Maryland's statutory definitions of stalking or harassment, which require courses of conduct intended to cause distress or fear.
The age statement was also false, according to court documents. Trumbull was born January, 1999 (age 26), while May was born August, 2004 (age 21), creating an actual five-year age difference rather than ten.
The Contradictory Statements
Less than twelve hours later, on the morning of September 16, 2025, May posted additional Instagram stories. According to the complaint, these stated Trumbull's video "did not hurt" her and was "f*cking hilariously bad" and "gives me recognition."
The complaint argues these admissions contradict May's accusations: "A person cannot simultaneously claim that someone is stalking and harassing them in a manner that causes genuine fear or distress while also claiming that the person's conduct 'did not hurt' them and is 'hilariously bad' and 'gives me recognition.'"
Cease-and-Desist, Peace Order, and Final Demand
On September 16, 2025, Trumbull sent May a cease-and-desist letter demanding retraction by September 25. May did not respond, according to court documents.
Also, on September 16, May filed a peace order petition against Trumbull in Baltimore County District Court. Court records show May failed to properly serve Trumbull on four separate occasions. On October 8, 2025, she voluntarily withdrew the petition.
On November 17, 2025, the District Court granted Trumbull's motion to shield the dismissed peace order record.
On November 19, 2025, Trumbull sent May a comprehensive demand letter via certified mail giving her until December 5, 2025, to post a retraction and apology. The letter offered a mutual release, meaning full resolution without litigation if she complied.
May did not respond or comply, according to the complaint.
The Lawsuit, Service, and Default
On December 8, 2025, Trumbull filed his Complaint for Defamation (Libel) Per Se in Baltimore County Circuit Court. The complaint seeks general damages of at least $30,000, an order requiring May to publish a retraction and apology, a permanent injunction preventing further defamatory statements, pre- and post-judgment interest, and costs.
On December 10, 2025, private process server Anthony Tyler Jarboe personally served May at her Lutherville Timonium residence. According to court filings, Jarboe delivered the documents directly into May's hands.
Under Maryland rules, May had thirty days to file an answer—until January 9, 2026. Court records show no response was filed.
On January 16, 2026, Trumbull filed a Motion for Entry of Order of Default, supported by documentation including compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The motion characterized May's conduct as showing "a pattern of deliberate non-responsiveness."
On January 20, 2026, Baltimore County Circuit Court entered an order of default against May, finding she failed to plead or otherwise defend as required by the Maryland Rules of Civil Procedure.
The order allows Trumbull to proceed to a hearing on damages under Maryland Rule 2-613(b).
Alleged Harm
The complaint details harm Trumbull alleges he suffered, including threatening and harassing messages from individuals who believed May's accusations. According to court documents, these included threats and messages harassing Trumbull.
The complaint also alleges reputational damage to Trumbull's professional standing as a content creator with 102,000 subscribers, emotional distress from being falsely accused of crimes, forced removal of his YouTube video which had received 15,000 views due to “spam” caused by Ava May, and expenditure of time and resources.
Neither party is represented by legal counsel. The case now awaits scheduling of a damages hearing.